Congo Free State

The Congo Free State was an independent state that was the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium, created in 1885 and lasting until 1908, when the Congo territory was placed under the direct rule of Belgium. Its status was confirmed at the Berlin Conference of 1884–85. The state became a major exporter of goods such as rubber and other minerals. However, the policies enacted by King Leopold II resulted in the deaths of roughly half of the country's population during the time period, resulting in the great powers of Europe pressuring the Belgian government to take direct control of the Congo. They did so in 1908, ending the existence of the Congo Free State and making it a full colony of Belgium. It later gained independence from Belgium in 1960 as the Republic of the Congo, this time becoming a truly sovereign state rather than the personal property of a European monarch.